‘No. We never met Mikhail.’
The expeditionary force hadn’t stayed inside the Black Rift for fifteen whole years in the first place.
It was a space where the flow of time had completely stopped, so I couldn’t be certain, but at most, it had only been around five years.
“Then what happened to the expedition members’ families…?”
A thought suddenly occurred to me, and I asked urgently.
“I heard they moved to Belken, where the Black Rift first appeared, and waited for the expedition to return for a long time. But now….”
I couldn’t bring myself to ask any further.
Back when Mikhail was there, he surely would have taken good care of them.
Perhaps even for a few generations after that, they would have continued to receive support.
But now, a full three hundred years had passed, and the very survival of the country was in jeopardy.
‘No.’
This couldn’t be happening.
Our journey, our promise, couldn’t end like this.
I would rather believe that this man was talking nonsense.
That it was all some cruel joke.
Or, if only I were dreaming a nightmare right now.
“Are you all right? It seems like you’ve stopped breathing….”
The man’s cautious hand touched my back.
The sensation was so vivid that it made it even harder to breathe.
As though it was telling me that all of this was undeniable reality.
‘Get a hold of yourself. This isn’t the time for this.’
I barely managed to pull myself together as I felt myself beginning to fall apart.
There was no point in being lost in shock. I couldn’t undo what had already happened, nor could I turn back the years that had passed.
Three hundred years.
If that much time had passed outside, then the expedition members who had scattered to reunite with their families would never get to fulfill their wishes.
If they were lucky, perhaps they might at least have met their descendants.
‘I promised to throw them a magnificent victory banquet.’
What would happen if I went to the King of Bardia right now, revealed my identity, and demanded a victory celebration?
‘Wouldn’t they treat me like a lunatic and try to throw me out?’
Even if I proved my identity as the commander of the expedition, that would only create another problem.
‘They’d probably hold the banquet, at least.’
But afterward, what if they started ordering me and the expedition members around under the pretext of royal commands?
Then things could get far more complicated than I could imagine.
‘I need to set things up properly if I want to keep the upper hand.’
To establish a foundation where the expedition members who had trusted and followed me all this time, as well as their descendants, could live happily, I couldn’t afford to make even a single misstep.
‘Because that will be the last mission left for me.’
For that very reason, I couldn’t let Bardia collapse as it was.
I had to drive out the external enemies, cut away the rotten parts within, and somehow get the country functioning properly again.
‘Even if that means replacing the king if he’s incompetent.’
I would make sure we received our due rewards.
Until I could fill the arms of those who had suffered alongside me and their descendants with everything they deserved, I would fulfill my responsibility.
…If possible, it would be even better if I could uncover the truth behind Mikhail’s disappearance.
“Slowly. Breathe along with me. I suppose you must have been quite shocked earlier.”
I glanced at the man who continued gently stroking my back without pause.
‘As expected, his mana scent is almost indistinguishable from Mikhail’s.’
A mana scent couldn’t be identical simply because two people used the same mana cultivation technique.
One’s will, character, and the way they had lived their life seeped into it, giving it an increasingly distinct depth.
In other words, this man possessed not only an ideal physique that anyone would envy, but also the qualities of a sage king that Mikhail had possessed.
‘He said he was the deposed Crown Prince.’
Even if he was currently being held hostage, he was surely the legitimate firstborn son of the current King of Bardia.
That alone made him worth placing a bet on.
‘For now, I’ll stay by this man’s side and gather information.’
I could also observe him firsthand and determine whether he was truly someone capable of bringing about a second period of prosperity for Bardia.
Revealing who I was would come afterward.
“I’m all right now.”
I took his arm and lowered it.
He tilted his head and studied my face for quite a while, as though worried about my condition, before finally nodding.
“Why haven’t you asked who I am?”
“Your name?”
“That included. Isn’t there anything you’re curious about? I could be an assassin myself, yet you don’t seem very wary.”
He answered my almost reproachful remark.
“I can sense the malice of others. If you were skilled enough to hide even that from me, I would have lost my life long ago.”
I had wondered if he was simply too trusting, but fortunately, he had a reason for his confidence.
“Then… What about earlier? Didn’t you mistake me for trying to throw myself at you? Doesn’t that count as malice?”
“That cannot be called malice… No, wait.”
His expression hardened as he questioned me in return.
“Was that… a misunderstanding?”
“Yes. There was a problem with the teleportation magic, and I simply fell on top of you. The aftereffects left my body stiff and made me unable to speak, so I couldn’t explain myself or move.”
He looked genuinely shocked by my explanation.
“So I… was mistaken. No wonder everything seemed to be going strangely well….”
His expression was filled with dismay as he muttered weakly.
Then, as though he had only just realized something, he helped me up from his lap.
“I know an apology alone won’t be enough… but I’m sorry.”
The man, having realized that he had misunderstood me, seemed at a loss for what to do.
“There’s nothing I can do for you right now, but later, I’ll make sure to compensate you somehow….”
“Actually, there is something you can do for me right now.”
I quickly cut him off.
“I want to stay here as your maid for the time being.”
He stared at me as though he couldn’t believe his ears.
“What…?”
“I have no family and nowhere to return to. Would you be willing to become my protector for a while?”
After hearing my answer, the man moved his lips hesitantly before rubbing the area around his eyes with his palm.
“You must have some idea of what my situation is like.”
“Yes, to some extent.”
“And yet you intend to rely on me.”
His voice came out low and restrained.
“If you simply need somewhere to stay for the time being….”
“I like it here.”
My objective is you, so where exactly do you expect me to go?
“……”
He seemed completely at a loss for words at my stubborn attitude.
I pointed out the issue he was likely concerned about.
“I’ll take care of any problems regarding my identity or employment myself, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
With the demons’ powers of deception, I should be able to blend into this castle quite naturally.
“What do you think? Will you let me?”
He remained silent for a long while, staring intently at me, before letting out a small sigh.
“I really… I can’t bring myself to refuse you.”
I had already prepared all sorts of arguments to persuade him, yet he accepted so easily.
As expected, he was a little… No, he was very softhearted.
“From now on, you can call me Ser.”
Three hundred years had passed. How many people would still remember my name, Iserna Airvayne?
Even if I simply introduced myself as ‘Iserna,’ no one would think to connect me to that name.
Still, just in case, it would be better not to use it for the time being.
“I’m Elhardt.”
As though responding to my introduction, he told me his own name.
“Then… should I call you Master?”
Having never been a maid, nor had one at my side, I had no idea where to begin or how to go about it.
Even the proper form of address was confusing.
Seeing his expression turn strange, I changed my suggestion.
“Or should I call you Prince? Which do you prefer?”
“It would be better if you simply called me by my name.”
“Isn’t that a little strange? I don’t think I should casually call the person I serve by his name.”
“No one will care.”
Hmm… Will they?
“All right, then.”
If that was what he wanted, I couldn’t very well refuse.
“Elhardt…?”
“…Yes.”
What was that? Why was he suddenly avoiding my gaze?
Was he simply not used to having his name called?
‘Well, he is royalty.’
The tips of his ears had turned red, and I was about to feel embarrassed for no reason, but I quickly composed myself.
All right, then.
What should I do now?
Now that we had settled on how I would address him, I should start doing my duties as a maid.
As I pondered while looking at him, I noticed the robe that was practically about to fall off.
‘Helping him straighten his clothes is one of a maid’s most basic duties.’
When I suddenly reached out, he seemed quite startled.
“What are you doing?”
He caught me before my hand could reach its target.
He could have easily avoided me, but… that would have seemed strange, so I obediently let him take hold of my wrist.
“Didn’t I just say it was a misunderstanding?”
“I’m going to straighten your clothes. That’s part of a maid’s job.”
“Th-that….”
His eyes wavered wildly, unable to settle anywhere.
“I see….”
Having cleared up the misunderstanding, Elhardt released my wrist.
I pulled up the robe hanging loosely around his waist to his shoulders and fastened it properly so that his chest was no longer exposed.
Then I tugged at the fabric to smooth out the wrinkles, and all that remained was to tie the sash around his waist again—
“I’ll do this.”
His voice sounded strangely hurried as he stopped me.
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